[Gnotobiotic studies to determine the colonization resistance of the intestines]

The literature data and the results of the author studies on determination of intestine colonization resistance are presented. The mechanisms of the colonization resistance defined by the macroorganism factors and representatives of indigenic microflora are discussed. The results of the experiments with animal gnotobiotes aimed at elucidating new aspects of the colonization resistance mechanism: antagonistic interrelations between pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria and the role of transitory microflora, factors lowering the colonization resistance are presented. The up-to-date methods for testing the colonization resistance and the ways for its increasing are indicated.